Remembering the Pulse nightclub shooting, three years later

Three years ago, several hundred people packed the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando for drinks, music and fun but instead became victims of the single worst attack on the LGBTQ community in the nation’s history. On Wednesday, community leaders, activists and others will gather in Orlando — and in Brevard — to remember the people massacred at Pulse by a heavily-armed man who stormed the nightspot.Forty-nine people were killed and another 53 were injured during the shooting, which took place during Pride Month, a time when LGBT communities worldwide mark the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969 and celebrates the community. These are the victims and their stories.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

People visit the memorial to the 49 shooting victims at the Pulse nightclub on June 11, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. On June 12, 2016 a mass shooting took place at the Pulse nightclub killed 49 people and wounded 53. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

People dressed as angels stand in front of the memorial set up for the shooting victims at Pulse nightclub where the shootings took place two years ago on June 12, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Jillienne Riethmiller, left, and Zachary Guadalupe spend time at the memorial set up for the shooting victims at Pulse nightclub where the shootings took place two years ago on June 12, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. On June 12, 2016 a mass shooting took place at Pulse nightclub killing 49 people and wounding 53 in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Bianca Booker places flowers on a fence at the memorial set up for the shooting victims at Pulse nightclub where the shootings took place two years ago on June 12, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Florida Governor Rick Scott and his wife, Ann Scott, carry flowers as they visit the memorial to the 49 shooting victims at the Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

People hold pictures of victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting during a rally in front of Orlando City Hall on June 11, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. Pulse nightclub and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors and their supporters held the rally to demand political leaders reject NRA influence and help the communities around the country that have experienced mass shootings. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Protesters participate in a die-in to mark the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2018, in West Palm Beach, Fla., across the water from the Mar-a-Lago resort. Joe Cavaretta, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, via AP

Reilly Boehm, left, and Kristy Suero hug during a rally for Pulse nightclub and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims in front of Orlando City Hall on June 11, 2018 in Orlando, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Game 7: St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (front) celebrates his goal in the final eight seconds of the first period. It gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead against the Boston Bruins. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

Trump Jr. to testify before Senate Intelligence Committee

Donald Trump Jr. is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday after the panel subpoenaed him last month. The move comes after Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., believed the subpoena from the GOP-led panel was based on testimony from President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen, who is now serving a three-year sentence in federal prison for lying to Congress, among other charges. Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, a Republican, has taken heat from some members of his party for the committee’s decision to issue the subpoena. President Trump has previously said that he was surprised by the move from lawmakers, adding: "My son’s a very good person. My son was totally exonerated."

Nicole Brown Simpson, Ron Goldman, were killed 25 years ago

Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of the killings of ex-NFL star and actor O.J. Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The grisly murders eventually led to "Trial of the Century" that saw Simpson get acquitted of killing the pair in October 1995. Simpson told the Associated Press he is healthy and happy living in Las Vegas and neither he nor his children want to look back at June 12, 1994. "We don't need to go back and relive the worst day of our lives," Simpson said. "My family and I have moved on to what we call the 'no negative zone.'" Not everyone has decided to move on, however. To coincide with the anniversary Kim Goldman, the younger sister of Ron Goldman, will on Wednesday launch a 10-week podcast, "Confronting: O.J. Simpson," during which she'll interview people from her brother's life and people who were involved in the case and the Simpson trial.

CLOSE

Take a look back at the O.J. Simpson double murder trial from 1995.
USA TODAY